Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Quantum Meruit and COA Disallowances: What Contractors Must Know
The Supreme Court affirms COA's power to determine overpayments to government contractors under quantum meruit, and explains when belated jurisdictional challenges are barred.
Upholding Court Authority: Contempt for Baseless Administrative Complaints
Filing baseless administrative complaints against judges and court personnel can result in indirect contempt. Learn the rules and consequences.
Easement OF Right OF WAY Ensuring Access Amidst Landlocked Property
Integrity in Public Service: Due Process in Administrative Misconduct Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on grave misconduct clarifies due process, family interests, and compromise authority in administrative cases.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Credibility, Alibi, and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court affirms a stepfather's rape conviction, explaining why a child victim's credible testimony outweighs alibi and why unalleged qualifying circumstances reduce the penalty.
Road Right of Way and Due Process in Easement Annotation: The Borromeo Bros. Case
When is annotating an easement of road right of way valid? The Supreme Court explains due process in land registration proceedings.
Bouncing Checks Acquittal: When Lack of Notice of Dishonor Leads to Acquittal and Reduced Civil Liability
SC acquits in B.P. 22 case for lack of proof of notice of dishonor, but reduces unconscionable 10% monthly interest to 12% per annum.
Ensuring Due Process When Procedural Technicalities Clash With Fair Investigation
The Supreme Court reminds courts that procedural rules must yield to substantive justice, especially when a respondent's right to due process in preliminary investigation is at stake.
Upholding Judicial Accountability THE Consequences OF Delayed Case Resolution AND Record Mishandling
Incestuous Rape: Conviction Based on Victim's Testimony and the Alibi Defense
In People v. Abon, the Supreme Court affirmed a father's conviction for incestuous rape based on his daughter's testimony and rejected his alibi defense.
Balancing Privacy, Bank Inquiry Orders, and Due Process in Anti-Money Laundering Cases
The Supreme Court rules that AMLA bank inquiry orders cannot be issued ex parte, protecting depositors' right to due process.
Union Security vs Due Process: Balancing Rights in Employee Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a union security clause justifies dismissal and what due process employers must observe.
Habitual Tardiness and Overtime Refusal: When Dismissal Is Valid but Due Process Still Matters
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on valid dismissal for habitual tardiness and overtime refusal, and the price of skipping procedural due process.
Tardiness, Insubordination, and Due Process: Balancing Grounds for Valid Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when habitual tardiness and insubordination justify dismissal, and what procedural due process truly requires.
Attorney Suspended for Neglect and Mishandling Client's Property
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for two years for failing to render legal services, returning money late, and withholding client's title and documents.
Negligence in Notarization: Consequences for Lawyers and the Validity of Wills
A lawyer-notary's careless notarization of a will can invalidate it and trigger suspension. Learn the rules and consequences.
Finality of Judgments, Due Process, and Counsel's Negligence in Contract Rescission
A Supreme Court ruling on finality of judgments, due process, and counsel's negligence in a construction contract rescission case.
Judicial Accountability When Haste Leads to Injustice in Granting Bail
A 2008 Supreme Court ruling reminds judges that bail in capital-offense cases requires notice, hearing, and evidence — not haste that defeats due process.
Safeguarding Public Funds: Due Process in Ombudsman Cases for Misconduct and Dishonesty
Explaining when a formal investigation is required in Ombudsman administrative cases and the due process rights of public officers facing dismissal.
Due Process in Termination: The Two-Notice Rule and Nominal Damages
Learn the two-notice rule in employee termination and when nominal damages apply, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Safeguarding Electoral Integrity: Due Process in Pre-Proclamation Cases
The Supreme Court nullifies a hasty proclamation in Cambe v. COMELEC, underscoring due process and the proper procedure for excluding election returns.
DUE Process VS Public Opinion Reconciling Impartiality IN Preliminary Investigations
Incestuous Rape as a Qualifying Circumstance and the Admissibility of the Victim's Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction, explaining why a victim's delayed report and testimony remain credible in incestuous rape cases.
Fixed Term vs Unexpired Term: Clarifying Appointments in the Philippine Tourism Authority
The Supreme Court clarifies when a PTA General Manager serves a full six-year term versus only the unexpired portion of a predecessor's term.